Emotions at the Surface: Ribeira de Piscos, and the Role of Emotionality in its Establishment as the Major Magdalenian Site within the Openair Côa Region Rock Art Complex (Portugal)

A groundbreaking analysis of the Ribeira de Piscos site in Portugal's Côa Valley reveals that emotional expressions in its Magdalenian-era rock art were not merely decorative but symbolically pivotal in establishing and sustaining this as the dominant Upper Palaeolithic site within the region. This discovery challenges conventional paradigms by highlighting the significance of emotionality—a rare trait in Palaeolithic art—in defining sacred or socially important spaces. The study examines specific figures with explicit emotional traits, suggesting they played a critical role in the site's evolution over 20,000 years, from the Gravettian to the Late Glacial period. This research updates our understanding of European Palaeolithic art, shifting focus from cave-centric models to open-air complexes and emphasizing the cultural and symbolic depth of these ancient expressions.

Reis, M. (2021). Emotions at the Surface: Ribeira de Piscos, and the Role of Emotionality in its Establishment as the Major Magdalenian Site within the Openair Côa Region Rock Art Complex (Portugal). Stratum plus. Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology, (1), 101–132. https://doi.org/10.55086/sp211101132